1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | Realme 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 160.8 × 78.1 × 7.4 mm | 164.3 × 75.6 × 8.5 mm | Realme 9 Pro is taller and thicker, while the iPhone is wider. This affects handling and pocketability. The Realme is noticeably bulkier. |
| Weight | 228g | 195g | Realme 9 Pro is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.6" | iPhone 12 Pro Max has a slightly larger screen, offering more immersive experience for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1284x2778 | 1080x2412 | iPhone 12 Pro Max's higher resolution results in a noticeably sharper image, with finer details. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 458 | 400 | iPhone 12 Pro Max has a significantly sharper display, improving text clarity and overall viewing experience. |
| Technology | OLED | IPS LCD | iPhone 12 Pro Max's OLED display offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and vibrant colors, resulting in a more premium visual experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Realme 9 Pro provides smoother scrolling and animations with its higher refresh rate, making the user interface feel more fluid. |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 0 nits | iPhone 12 Pro Max's dramatically higher brightness ensures excellent visibility even in bright sunlight, whereas the Realme's brightness is not specified which makes it difficult to compare and could be an issue for outdoor use. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) | Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm) | iPhone 12 Pro Max's A14 chip is significantly more powerful, enabling faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better performance in demanding tasks like gaming. The Snapdragon 695 is more of a mid-range chip. |
| Antutu Score | 1,121,803 | 402,916 | iPhone 12 Pro Max has significantly superior benchmark performance, indicating a substantial performance advantage across various tasks. |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 619 | iPhone's GPU delivers significantly better graphics performance for gaming and other graphically intensive tasks. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 3687mAh | 5000mAh | Realme 9 Pro has a much larger battery, potentially offering significantly longer battery life under moderate use. |
| Charging | 20W Fast Charging | 33W Fast Charging | Realme 9 Pro charges faster with its 33W charger, reducing downtime. |
| Features | Wireless Charging | No wireless charging | iPhone 12 Pro Max offers convenient wireless charging with both MagSafe and Qi options. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 12MP, f/1.6 | 64MP, f/1.79 | Realme 9 Pro has higher resolution, potentially capturing more detail, while the iPhone has a slightly wider aperture for better low light performance. Sensor size is missing for iPhone main sensor which makes comparison incomplete. |
| Selfie Camera | 12MP, f/2.2 | 16MP, f/2.0 | Realme 9 Pro has a slightly higher resolution and wider aperture, potentially resulting in better selfies, especially in low light. |
| Telephoto Lens | Yes | No | iPhone 12 Pro Max's telephoto lens enables optical zoom for better photos at a distance and portrait mode. |
| Wide-Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.4 | 8MP, f/2.2 | iPhone 12 Pro Max has higher resolution, larger sensor, while the Realme has a slightly wider aperture for wider shots in low light. |
| Macro Lens | No | 2MP, f/2.4 | Realme 9 Pro includes a dedicated macro lens, enabling close-up shots of small objects, which is missing in the iPhone 12 Pro Max |
| Video | Up to 4K@60fps | Up to 1080p@30fps | iPhone 12 Pro Max records higher resolution, higher frame rate videos, resulting in more detailed and smoother videos. |
| DXOMark Score | 131 (Mobile), 132 (Selfie) | N/A | iPhone 12 Pro Max has been rated significantly better by DXOMark, suggesting superior overall camera performance. |
| Software | |||
| OS | iOS 14.1 | Android 12 | Different ecosystems. iOS is known for its simplicity, tight integration, and performance, while Android offers more customization and open-source capabilities. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 | iPhone 12 Pro Max has a newer Wi-Fi standard, potentially offering faster Wi-Fi speeds and better network performance. Realme 9 Pro additionally supports Wi-Fi direct and display which can be useful for certain situations. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1 | Bluetooth 5.1 | Realme 9 Pro includes advanced codecs (aptX, LDAC, SBC, AAC) that can improve audio quality with some Bluetooth headphones. |
| GPS | More Systems | Less Systems | iPhone 12 Pro Max supports more satellite systems, offering potentially better location accuracy in challenging environments. |
| SIM | Nano SIM + eSIM | Nano SIM + Nano SIM | iPhone 12 Pro Max has a convenient eSIM option which can be useful for travel |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256/512 GB | 128 GB | iPhone 12 Pro Max offers more internal storage options, which can be very useful for users with large media libraries. |
| RAM | 6 GB | 6/8 GB | Realme 9 Pro has a higher RAM variant, which can be helpful for multitasking, but the iPhone handles it quite well due to software optimizations. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage via SD card. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos | Hi-Res Audio | iPhone 12 Pro Max has Dolby Atmos with stereo speakers offering a more spatial audio experience while Realme 9 Pro has Hi-Res audio with noise cancellation mic for better quality sound. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic Security | Fingerprint Sensor | Realme 9 Pro has a side mounted fingerprint sensor while the iPhone 12 Pro Max relies on Face ID and passcode. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Screen protection specifics are missing for both phones. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Compass, Barometer, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Proximity | Fingerprint, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Proximity | iPhone 12 Pro Max has additional environmental sensors while Realme 9 Pro has biometric and geomagnetic sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Advantages:
- Significantly Superior Performance: The A14 Bionic chip offers much faster processing speeds for smooth performance in heavy applications and demanding games, backed up by significantly higher benchmark scores (1,121,803 vs 402,916).
- Higher Quality Display: The OLED screen provides better contrast, color accuracy, and higher pixel density (458 ppi vs 400 ppi), offering a visually superior experience, especially for media consumption and reading. The brightness is also significantly better at 1200 nits vs unkown.
- Better Camera System: The triple-lens camera with a dedicated telephoto lens, higher DXOMark rating, and superior video capabilities (4K@60fps) offers better image quality and zoom capabilities, specifically with the missing sensor size for the main lens on the iPhone, the wide angle lens does have a larger sensor than the wide angle lens on the Realme.
- More Premium Build and Features: Offers wireless charging (MagSafe and Qi), a premium build and a more refined ecosystem with iOS.
- Better Location Accuracy: Has more GPS systems available to use making it potentially better in challenging environments.
Realme 9 Pro Advantages:
- Smoother Display: The 120Hz refresh rate provides a noticeably smoother user experience when scrolling and gaming, but it still has an IPS LCD panel rather than the OLED panel in the iPhone.
- Longer Battery Life: The larger 5000mAh battery potentially offers longer usage between charges.
- Faster Charging: 33W fast charging replenishes the battery quicker than the 20W charging offered by iPhone.
- Additional Features: Has a macro lens for close up photography, Wi-Fi direct and display, advanced bluetooth audio codecs, a side mounted fingerprint sensor.
- Lighter and more comfortable: The Realme is significantly lighter than the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Trade-offs:
- Performance: iPhone 12 Pro Max sacrifices the smoother 120Hz refresh rate and larger battery for top-tier performance.
- Camera: While Realme has a higher resolution sensor, the actual output of the iPhone 12 Pro Max will be superior in most situations based on DXOMark scores. The iPhone also has a telephoto lens which the Realme does not.
- Display: The iPhone trades the 120hz display for an OLED panel with much better brightness, contrast, color and pixel density.
- Ecosystem: Choosing between iOS and Android is a significant trade-off depending on personal preference and existing software ecosystem.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max:
- Ideal User: Power users, creative professionals, photography enthusiasts, gamers, or those deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem.
- Use Cases: Video editing, gaming, high-quality photography/videography, demanding applications, users that need bright displays for outdoor use, or require a premium device with cutting edge tech.
Realme 9 Pro:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users, gamers who prefer high refresh rates, users who prioritize battery life, or Android users looking for a feature-rich experience at a more affordable price point.
- Use Cases: Casual gaming, social media browsing, media consumption, day-to-day tasks, and those who need the longer battery life.
Price-to-Value Ratio: The iPhone 12 Pro Max is a premium device with a higher price tag, justified by its top-tier performance, excellent display, and camera capabilities. The Realme 9 Pro offers a solid set of features with a higher refresh rate, a larger battery, a fingerprint sensor, and faster charging at a much more affordable price point. The price difference between the phones is significant and should be considered.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- Budget: How much are you willing to spend on a phone? The iPhone 12 Pro Max is significantly more expensive than the Realme 9 Pro.
- Performance Needs: Do you need the best possible performance for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, or will a smooth and reliable experience with some limitations suffice?
- Ecosystem and Preference: Do you prefer iOS or Android and are you already invested in either of the ecosystems? This will greatly affect compatibility and workflow of your device.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Power User
- Recommendation: Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max. If you need the best possible performance, display, and camera capabilities and price is not your biggest issue, the iPhone is the better choice.
- Scenario 2: Budget-Conscious Buyer
- Recommendation: Realme 9 Pro. If you prioritize value and want a smooth display, long battery life, fingerprint scanner, and fast charging at a much lower price point, this phone will serve you well.
- Scenario 3: Multimedia Enthusiast
- Recommendation: Depends on priorities. If image quality and video is more important, iPhone is the best choice. If you want a smoother display with more modern features on Android, the Realme is the better choice.
What I would choose and why:
Personally, I would choose the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max. While the Realme 9 Pro offers a good value proposition with its higher refresh rate, larger battery, and faster charging, my priorities lean towards a premium device with top-tier performance, an excellent display, and a superior camera system. I value the refined ecosystem that iOS provides, the build quality of the iPhone, and the superior photo/video capabilities, particularly the telephoto lens. Although the iPhone is older, the A14 Bionic chip continues to provide cutting edge performance and the screen offers a much better experience in a variety of environments. The faster charging and larger battery of the Realme 9 Pro are great features, but I am willing to trade them off for the overall experience that the iPhone provides. I also prefer the wider colour gamut and better contrast of the OLED panel in the iPhone compared to the LCD in the Realme.
